Asher Lev

Asher Lev

Asher Lev

"My eyes rested a long time in the dark softness of the picture. Then i felt them begin to move again across the rise and fall of the cot ours, across the warm light and dark colors. I felt the colors and the lines. I felt the forms. I felt the light and shade and color and shape. I felt the picture move inside myself, slowly, in a gentle spin. Then it began to whirl and suddenly it was white, color and shaper all fusing into brilliant white light, and i felt the picture spinning wildy, all white light quivering and spinning crazily inside my head, and I opened my eyes and was very frightened. I was bathed in sweat. My hands were wet. I lay in bed, terrified. It is the Other Side, I told myself. It is the Other Side. But I can't help it. I lay in bed and stared into the darkness and listened to the strange new pounding of my heart." (Potok 179)

"All my life, I had loved that festival. It had meant for me the warmth and love, the end of winter and the coming of grass and summer sun. Now it was choked with bitterness and fear," (Potok 180)

"I did not even know her name. I saw the flowing curve of the breasts. I saw the line of shoulders and hip and thigh and leg. I drew her carefully. My arm felt nerveless, drained of its strength. I felt sweat in my armpits and along my back. My face dripped in sweat. Jacob Jahn stood being me, watching, I finished the drawing, It was vey bad. I felt ashamed. It took a deep breath and moved to a clean sheet of paper and began again." (Potok 230)